Safe-conduct

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Safe-conduct \Safe"-con"duct\, n. [Safe + conduct: cf. F.
     sauf-conduit.]
     That which gives a safe passage; either
     (a) a convoy or guard to protect a person in an enemy's
         country or a foreign country, or
     (b) a writing, pass, or warrant of security, given to a


         person to enable him to travel with safety. --Shak.
         [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Safe-conduct \Safe`-con*duct"\, v. t.
     To conduct safely; to give safe-conduct to. [Poetic]
     [1913 Webster]
  
           He him by all the bonds of love besought
           To safe-conduct his love.                --Spenser.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  safe-conduct
       n : a document or escort providing safe passage through a region
           especially in time of war [syn: {safeguard}]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  SAFE-CONDUCT, comm. law, war. A passport or permission from a neutral state 
  to persons who are thus authorized to go and return in safety, and, 
  sometimes, to carry away certain things, in safety. According to common 
  usage, the term passport is employed on ordinary occasions, for the 
  permission given to persons when there is no reason why they should not go 
  where they please: and safe-conduct is the name given to the instrument 
  which authorizes certain persons, as enemies, to go into places where they 
  could not go without danger, unless thus authorized by the government. 
       2. A safe-conduct is also the name of an instrument given to the 
  captain or master of a ship to proceed on a particular voyage: it usually 
  contains his name and residence, the name, description and destination of 
  the ship, with such other matters as the practice of the place requires. 
  This document is indispensably necessary for the safety of every neutral 
  ship. 
       3. The act of congress of April 30th, 1790, s. 27, punishes the 
  violation of any safe-conduct or passport granted under the authority of the 
  United States, on conviction, with imprisonment, not exceeding three years, 
  and a fine at the discretion of the court. Vide Conduct; Passport; and 18 
  Vin. Ab. 272.